Opinion
Victor Ochei and the 2027 Delta North Equation: The Return of Political Sagacity, Substance and Service
By Austin Edemodu, PhD
As the race for the 2027 Delta North Senatorial District gradually gathers momentum, conversations within political circles and across communities are increasingly tilting towards credibility, competence, and character.
In this unfolding discourse, the name Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei continues to resonate raising fundamental questions about leadership depth, political sagacity, and the future direction of Delta North.
Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei’s political journey is neither accidental nor ornamental. From his early days as the Representative of Aniocha North State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, to his historic emergence as Speaker of the House, Ochei distinguished himself as a leader of uncommon charisma, clarity of purpose, and legislative excellence.
His tenure was defined by inclusiveness, maturity, and a rare detribalized outlook that elevated him above parochial politics.
Widely regarded as focused, versatile, and ideologically grounded, Victor Ochei brought a unique and refreshing ambience into the Delta State political landscape one anchored on selfless service, progressiveness, and bridge-building across ethnic, political, and social divides. These attributes did not go unnoticed.
This was evident during the 2015 Delta State gubernatorial primaries, one of the most fiercely contested in the state’s political history. In a field crowded with heavyweights, Ochei polled an impressive 185 votes, finishing third behind Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (406 votes) and Chief David Edbvie (299 votes). That performance underscored his statewide acceptability, political structure, and the confidence reposed in him by party delegates across Delta State.
True to character, Victor Ochei was never perturbed by the outcome of the primaries. Instead of retreating into political obscurity, he demonstrated uncommon courage and conviction by contesting the Delta North Senatorial election under the Accord Party, challenging the late Senator Peter Nwaoboshi of the PDP. Though unsuccessful, his loss was not a verdict on popularity or relevance, but rather a reflection of the realities of power play and the overwhelming weight of a hegemonic political structure at the time.
Remarkably, years after that contest, Victor Ochei’s grassroots appeal remains intact. His political capital has not diminished; rather, it has matured. He remains accessible, connected to the people, and deeply invested in community development qualities that resonate strongly with today’s politically conscious electorate.
Beyond politics, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei embodies substance. An Engineer, a Lawyer, and a sports enthusiast, he represents a rare blend of intellect, professionalism, and human empathy. His public service credentials extend to the federal level, where he served with distinction as Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) a role that demanded strategic thinking, administrative discipline, and national outlook. He is currently the President of Nigeria Tennis Federation, a position he attained through selfless investment in sports over the years.
Indeed, Victor Ochei’s years of commitment to community development, youth empowerment, and women inclusion speak volumes. These are not campaign slogans, but lived experiences that have earned him respect beyond party lines.
As Delta North approaches another critical electoral crossroads in 2027 with formidable contenders such as former Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and incumbent Senator Ned Nwoko in the race, the district is presented with a defining choice. Experience versus innovation. Familiar power structures versus progressive, people-centered leadership.
In this context, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei stands as a compelling alternative, a political juggernaut whose credentials are rooted in service, whose appeal cuts across demographics, and whose vision aligns with the aspirations of a new generation of voters.
Does Victor Ochei deserve another shot at the Delta North Senatorial seat in 2027?
The answer is resounding yes.
In the era where credibility matters more than clout, and service outweighs symbolism, Victor Onyekachi Ochei represents not just continuity, but renewal, a tested hand with temperament, competence and moral authority to effectively represent Delta North Senatorial District at the National Assembly. As the political drums get louder: Victor Ochei remains an iconic figure prepared and ready.
Austin Edemodu, PhD
Opinion
China-Africa Cooperation: Tackling Insecurity Through Development
Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman B. Dambazau (rtd), PhD, CFR, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the People’s Republic of China.
By Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman B. Dambazau (rtd), PhD, CFR
A farmer who cannot safely reach his land, a child whose school has closed because of violence, and a young graduate unable to find productive employment experience insecurity in different ways.
Their circumstances reveal a common challenge: lasting peace requires protection from violence and the opportunity to live with dignity. This connection should occupy a central place in China–Africa cooperation.
My experience in military leadership, internal security and diplomacy has reinforced my conviction that security operations must form part of a broader national effort. Armed forces and law enforcement agencies have indispensable responsibilities to protect communities, confront violent groups and uphold the law.
The gains they secure become durable when legitimate institutions, functioning services and economic opportunities take root.
Development is therefore a strategic component of security. Where communities can farm, trade, learn and obtain justice, they have stronger foundations for resisting the pressures that sustain violence.
Poverty does not automatically produce terrorism or criminality. Millions endure hardship without turning to violence. Insecurity also arises from political exclusion, contested resources, extremist ideologies, organised crime and institutional weakness. Nevertheless, prolonged deprivation and a lack of credible opportunities can create vulnerabilities that violent actors exploit.
Effective policy must address both those actors and the conditions that enable their influence.
China–Africa cooperation offers a framework for advancing this approach. The Forum on China–Africa Cooperation’s Beijing Action Plan for 2025–2027 brings peace and security into the same programme as industrialisation, agriculture, infrastructure, education, public health and green development. Its significance lies in the opportunity to connect these fields through practical implementation.
China’s development experience provides useful lessons. A joint study by the World Bank and Chinese institutions reported in 2022 that, over the preceding four decades, the number of people in China living below the international extreme-poverty line then in use had fallen by close to 800 million.
The study emphasised economic transformation alongside targeted poverty reduction measures. African countries can examine how agricultural productivity, infrastructure, education and employment expanded opportunity, while adapting relevant lessons to their own circumstances.
Africa’s countries have distinct histories, political systems and development priorities. Cooperation will achieve more when African governments define their needs clearly and negotiate partnerships that strengthen domestic capabilities. African ownership must guide project selection, implementation and assessment.
Agriculture should be an immediate priority. In communities affected by insecurity, restoring farming and rural commerce can support recovery and stability. Cooperation in irrigation, improved seeds, machinery, storage, processing and extension services can raise productivity and strengthen livelihoods. Investment should be accompanied by secure access to land, fair arrangements for managing water and grazing resources, and credible mechanisms for resolving disputes.
A processing facility has greater value when farmers can reach it safely, receive fair payment and access wider markets. Communities emerging from violence also need assistance that enables displaced families to return voluntarily, safely and with dignity, and rebuild sustainable livelihoods. Development planning and security planning must meet at this practical level.
Reliable electricity and productive industry are equally important. Power supply enables workshops, factories, health facilities and digital enterprises to function. Industrial cooperation should create opportunities for African workers, suppliers and entrepreneurs, with clear provisions for skills transfer and the maintenance of equipment and facilities.
Young people need realistic pathways from education to work. Technical training should connect to actual demand in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, logistics and technology. Programmes should be assessed by the capabilities and employment they produce. Partnerships between training institutions and employers can help ensure that qualifications lead to productive work.
Infrastructure must be judged by the economic activity and public services it enables. A railway, road or port can support national integration and trade, but its wider benefits depend on connections to local production and affordable access. Project planning must account for maintenance, environmental protection, community interests and financial sustainability. Financing arrangements should be transparent, with repayment obligations assessed against realistic economic returns and public resources.
Education and health deserve the same strategic attention.
Schools help communities recover continuity and hope after disruption. Accessible healthcare reduces household vulnerability and strengthens confidence in public institutions. Cooperation among universities, research centres, hospitals and technical colleges can build the expertise African countries need to sustain these services.
Women must participate fully in this work. Their livelihoods, access to services and involvement in local decision-making matter to household resilience and community recovery. Programmes designed without their participation risk overlooking essential needs and sources of knowledge.
Development cannot compensate for injustice. Communities require fair policing, accessible courts, accountable administration and protection from abuse. A school or clinic will contribute more to lasting stability where citizens also trust public institutions to treat them fairly. Economic investment and institutional reform should proceed together.
Security cooperation should reinforce these foundations. Professional training, peacekeeping capacity, maritime security, action against illicit arms and stronger responses to organised crime can help protect development gains.
Such cooperation should uphold national law, human rights and accountability. Its ultimate purpose must be the safety of people and the strengthening of legitimate institutions.
For Nigeria, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s September 2024 visit to China provides a framework for pursuing these objectives. It offers an opportunity to connect bilateral cooperation more closely with Nigeria’s priorities for economic transformation and national security.
The next task is disciplined implementation. Every major commitment should have an identified responsible institution, a financing arrangement, a timetable and measurable outcomes. Proposed projects, signed agreements, funds disbursed and completed investments represent different stages of progress. Public reporting should make those distinctions clear.
We should ask practical questions. Has an agricultural project improved farmers’ incomes? Has an industrial investment created sustainable employment and developed local suppliers? Has training transferred skills that institutions can retain? Have communities affected by conflict gained safer access to schools, healthcare and markets?
These questions should guide the assessment of cooperation. They also require African governments to fulfil their own responsibilities: coordinating institutions, protecting public resources, maintaining infrastructure and ensuring that investment benefits communities fairly. Regional cooperation is essential where trade routes, shared resources and security threats cross national borders.
China–Africa cooperation can contribute substantially to peace when development expands opportunity, institutions earn public trust and security agencies protect citizens effectively. Its lasting achievement should be visible in ordinary lives: farmers returning safely to their fields, young people securing worthwhile work and children remaining in school. These are the foundations on which a more secure Africa can be built.
_Abdulrahman B. Dambazau is a retired Lieutenant General, former Chief of Army Staff and former Minister of Interior. He is currently the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the People’s Republic of China. He writes from Beijing, China._
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